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Last Thursday, Ian Clemment Corneck, 26, of Boone was arrested in a traffic stop by the Watauga County Sheriff’s on warrants for 6 counts of Attempting to Exceed Pseudoephedrine Limits. A search of the vehicle was conducted on scene but was halted when Deputies located what appeared to be
a methamphetamine laboratory. Narcotics detectives responded to the scene and began processing the evidence. During the course of the search, multiple “Shake and Bake” methamphetamine laboratories were located. An active HCL gas generator was also discovered containing an unknown liquid which was producing a white cloud of smoke from the bottle. Because of the violent nature of the liquid, the decision was made to stop the search until the State Bureau of Investigation’s Clandestine Laboratory Response Team could respond the following morning. The following day, detectives, along with the Clan Lab Response Team, continued to process the multiple methamphetamine labs and neutralize the hazardous chemicals. A total of 3 methamphetamine labs and an HCL gas generator were located during the search of the vehicle. The Clan Lab Response Team also assisted in processing 4 additional methamphetamine lab dump sites that narcotics detectives had seized which were located in the Zionville and Meat Camp areas.

“The volatile and unpredictable nature of these methamphetamine laboratories is extremely hazardous to our officers who encounter these chemicals on a fairly regular basis. Law enforcement officers across the state are working hard with state legislators to enact tougher laws pertaining to the control of pseudoephedrine and to make pseudoephedrine a prescription only medication. Pseudoephedrine is the key component in manufacturing methamphetamine, without it, meth cannot be produced.” Sgt. Jason Zaragoza. In addition to the 6 counts of Attempting to Exceed Pseudoephedrine Limits that Corneck was arrested on, he was also charged with: Manufacture Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine Precursors, Maintaining a Vehicle CS (F), Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Corneck is currently being held at the Watauga County Detention Facility in lieu of a $105,000 secured bond. Corneck is scheduled to appear in District Court in Boone on May 30, 2013.